Chris Arnoldhttp://wxpr.org
enSenator 'Astounded' That Nonprofit Hospitals Sue Poorest Patientshttp://wxpr.org/post/senator-astounded-nonprofit-hospitals-sue-poorest-patients
NPR and ProPublica have been reporting about nonprofit hospitals that seize the wages of lower-income and working-class patients. Now, Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says hospitals could be breaking the law by suing these patients and docking their pay. And he wants some answers.<p>NPR and ProPublica looked across six states, and in each, we found nonprofit hospitals suing hundreds of their patients. One hospital in particular jumped out — Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Mo.Thu, 22 Jan 2015 08:34:00 +0000Chris Arnold28877 at http://wxpr.orgSenator 'Astounded' That Nonprofit Hospitals Sue Poorest PatientsConsumer Agency Launches Tool To Help You Find A Cheaper Mortgagehttp://wxpr.org/post/consumer-agency-launches-tool-help-you-find-cheaper-mortgage
Many Americans love a good deal, shopping around to save $10 or $20 on a pair of pants or winter coats for the kids — but when finding mortgages, <a href="http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201501_cfpb_consumers-mortgage-shopping-experience.pdf" target="_blank">nearly half don't even call around to different banks</a>.Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:32:00 +0000Chris Arnold28490 at http://wxpr.orgConsumer Agency Launches Tool To Help You Find A Cheaper MortgageEmployment Is Up. Paychecks, Not So Muchhttp://wxpr.org/post/employment-paychecks-not-so-much
The U.S. economy saw the strongest job growth last year since 1999, according to statistics released Friday by the Department of Labor. The country gained another 252,000 jobs in December.<p>That's the good news — but this jobs report also dashed some hopes for fatter paychecks. Employers are hiring more people, but overall, the wages they're paying remain flat.<p>A month ago, it seemed wages were starting to pick up — but those November numbers were revised lower.Sat, 10 Jan 2015 15:33:00 +0000Chris Arnold28399 at http://wxpr.orgEmployment Is Up. Paychecks, Not So MuchWhen Nonprofit Hospitals Sue Their Poorest Patientshttp://wxpr.org/post/when-hospital-bill-becomes-decade-long-pay-cut
On the eastern edge of St. Joseph, Mo., lies the small city's only hospital, a landmark of modern brick and glass buildings. Everyone in town knows Heartland Regional Medical Center — many residents gave birth to their children here. Many rush here when they get hurt or sick.<p>And there's another reason everyone knows this place: Thousands of people around St. Joseph have been sued by the hospital and had their wages seized to pay for medical bills.Fri, 19 Dec 2014 10:03:00 +0000Chris Arnold27530 at http://wxpr.orgWhen Nonprofit Hospitals Sue Their Poorest PatientsMortgage Giants Ease Down Payments For First-Time Homebuyershttp://wxpr.org/post/mortgage-giants-ease-down-payments-first-time-homebuyers
A federal directive will go into effect Saturday making it easier for some Americans to come up with a down payment to buy a house.<p>The vast majority of home loans are guaranteed by the government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.Fri, 12 Dec 2014 23:21:00 +0000Chris Arnold27269 at http://wxpr.orgMortgage Giants Ease Down Payments For First-Time HomebuyersFor More Local Turkeys To Hit Holiday Tables, You Need An Abattoirhttp://wxpr.org/post/heritage-turkeys-hit-holiday-tables-you-need-abattoir
It's a busy time of year for turkey farmers around the country. And these days, with the growth of the local food movement, small family farms are struggling to keep up with all the orders for birds. So, we went to find out what one New England farmer is doing to get her gobblers from the field to the table. Enter the "abattoir."<p>On a recent chilly November morning, I visited Kate Stillman's farm, a 160-acre spread nestled in between some little hilly pastures and some woods. It's a beautiful little place. And it's been a farm here in Hardwick, Mass., since the early 1800s.Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:15:00 +0000Chris Arnold26566 at http://wxpr.orgFor More Local Turkeys To Hit Holiday Tables, You Need An AbattoirFirm Accused Of Illegal Practices That Push Families Into Foreclosurehttp://wxpr.org/post/firm-accused-illegal-practices-push-families-foreclosure
The fallout from the housing crisis isn't over.<p>According to Moody's Analytics, there were 700,000 foreclosures last year. And some of those people probably didn't need to lose their homes. Even now, more than six years after the housing crash, lawyers for homeowners say mortgage companies are still making mistakes and foreclosing on homes when they shouldn't be.<p>Ocwen Financial Corp. is facing an investigation by regulators and a new lawsuit over its treatment of homeowners facing foreclosures.Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:33:00 +0000Chris Arnold26257 at http://wxpr.orgFirm Accused Of Illegal Practices That Push Families Into ForeclosureNew 15-Year Mortgage May Open Homeownership Door For More Buyershttp://wxpr.org/post/new-15-year-mortgage-may-open-homeownership-door-more-buyers
The 30-year mortgage is the foundation of the real estate market largely because it makes housing more affordable. But the truth is, it's a lousy loan for building actual ownership or equity in your home during the first 5 or 7 years, which caused big trouble when housing crashed.<p>But there's something new that's getting a lot of attention. It's called the <a href="http://www.aei.org/article/economics/a-straight-path-to-wealth-and-debt-free-homeownership/" target="_blank">Wealth Building Home Loan</a> because it helps people own more of their house more quickly.Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:18:00 +0000Chris Arnold24471 at http://wxpr.orgNew 15-Year Mortgage May Open Homeownership Door For More BuyersThe 'Bond King' Leaves His $2 Trillion Kingdomhttp://wxpr.org/post/bond-king-leaves-his-2-trillion-kingdom
Heavy drama played out this week — and not just on Shonda Rhimes' TV shows.<p>The bond-investing world was roiled by news that Bill Gross — the man known as "The Bond King" — has abruptly left the huge investment firm he founded in 1971. The departure left a lot of people scratching their heads on Wall Street.<p>"The natural question is: What's going on at PIMCO?" said David Kotok, chief investment officer at Cumberland Advisors.Fri, 26 Sep 2014 21:39:00 +0000Chris Arnold24208 at http://wxpr.orgThe 'Bond King' Leaves His $2 Trillion KingdomMany Homeowners Still Qualify For Mortgage Reliefhttp://wxpr.org/post/many-homeowners-still-qualify-mortgage-relief
The financial crisis pushed millions of Americans from their homes. And housing advocates complain that the government did more to prop up big banks on Wall Street than it did to help average people on Main Street.<p>But many of those people on Main Street could still qualify for a government program to help them save money by refinancing their mortgages.<p>At a recent town hall event at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, former U.S. Rep. Mel Watt laid out the numbers: The Home Affordable Refinance Program, known as HARP, saves people who take advantage of it an average $200 a month.Tue, 26 Aug 2014 07:44:00 +0000Chris Arnold22944 at http://wxpr.orgMany Homeowners Still Qualify For Mortgage Relief